Lost lands facts for kids
Lost lands are continents or islands that some people believe existed long ago but have since vanished. Stories about these places often describe them disappearing because of a major natural event, like an earthquake or a flood.
Many legends about lost lands began as ideas from scientists or thinkers. Later, writers of stories and fantasy books used these ideas to create exciting new worlds. Some of these places, like Atlantis, are described as a "lost island," while others are called a "lost continent."
While many lost lands are just myths, scientists have discovered real lands that are now underwater. With modern technology, like computer simulations of the Earth's tectonic plates, scientists have confirmed the existence of ancient continents like Greater Adria and Zealandia.
In contrast to lost lands, Phantom islands are islands that mapmakers once thought were real but were later proven not to exist as exploration of the world continued.
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Real Places Now Under the Sea
Even though most stories of lost continents are myths, there are many real places on Earth that were once dry land. After the last ice age ended about 12,000 years ago, huge amounts of ice melted. This caused sea levels to rise all over the world, flooding large areas of land. These real-life events may have inspired ancient stories about great floods.
Here are some real places that are now underwater:
- Beringia: A land bridge that once connected Asia and North America. Early humans used it to travel between the continents.
- Doggerland: A large area of land that connected Great Britain to the rest of Europe. It is now under the North Sea.
- Sundaland: A huge landmass in Southeast Asia that was exposed during the ice age. As the seas rose, it was submerged, creating the islands of Indonesia we see today.
- Maui Nui: In the past, this was one giant island in the Hawaii chain. Today, the islands of Maui, Molokaʻi, Lānaʻi, and Kahoʻolawe are the remaining high points of this ancient land.
- Ferdinandea: A volcanic island in the Mediterranean Sea that has appeared and disappeared under the waves at least four times.
Sunken Continents Discovered by Scientists
Scientists have found evidence of entire continents that are now mostly hidden beneath the ocean.
- Zealandia: A real continent that is now 94% underwater in the Pacific Ocean. The only parts of it that are above water are New Zealand and New Caledonia.
- Greater Adria: A continent about the size of Greenland that was discovered in 2019. It broke off from North Africa millions of years ago and is now hidden under Southern Europe.
Legendary Lost Worlds from Stories and Myths
These are famous lost lands from myths, legends, and stories. While they are fun to imagine, there is no proof that they ever existed.
- Atlantis: The most famous lost land. The philosopher Plato wrote about it as a powerful and advanced island that sank into the ocean in a single day and night.
- Avalon: A legendary island from the stories of King Arthur. It was said to be a magical place where Arthur was taken to heal after his final battle.
- El Dorado: A mythical city of gold, said to be hidden somewhere in South America. Many explorers searched for it but never found it.
- Lemuria and Mu: Two other legendary continents, said to have disappeared into the Pacific or Indian Oceans long ago.
- Lyonesse: A kingdom in the stories of King Arthur that was said to have sunk beneath the waves off the coast of Cornwall, England.
- Shangri-La: A fictional, peaceful valley hidden in the mountains of Tibet, where people live for a very long time.
- Ys: A mythical city in Brittany, France, that was supposedly built below sea level and protected by a dam. According to legend, it was flooded when a gate was opened.
- Kumari Kandam: A mythical continent in the Indian Ocean, believed by some to be the home of an ancient Tamil civilization.
Lost Lands in Books and Movies
The idea of a lost world has inspired writers and filmmakers for centuries. These exciting stories often feature brave explorers discovering hidden lands filled with amazing creatures and ancient secrets.
- The author J. R. R. Tolkien was inspired by the legend of Atlantis when he created the island of Númenor in his The Lord of the Rings books.
- Jules Verne wrote many adventure stories about lost worlds, such as The Mysterious Island.
- Edgar Rice Burroughs wrote about a hidden land where dinosaurs still live in his book The Land That Time Forgot.
- The stories of H. P. Lovecraft often mention fictional lost cities and lands as part of his strange and mysterious universe.
See also
- Flood myth
- Lost city
- Lost world
- Phantom island
- Terra Australis
- Tidal island
